Thursday, 30 April 2020

Perhaps we don’t think of the seafront needing
protection … but the power of the tides never stops … the constant rise and
fall of the sea stresses and strains the tidal zone: between the sea and actual
land.

2005 - Eastbourne seafront -showing the groynes

The land where the town now stands was protected by
its natural shingle shoreline … but as the shingle was naturally moved eastwards it was constantly eroding the shoreline.

Collapsed and useless groynes in 1990 -after a number of storms prior to that date

The groynes were a Georgian/ Victorian engineering invention to counter this tidal
subjugation – a necessity, in the late 1800s, when the town was being turned
into a resort …

A sea wall was required, which then itself needed
protection … the development of Eastbourne as a seaside town was started … sea-bathing,
and even drinking sea-water, as cure-alls
had been popularised from the late 1600s.

A railway advert - not sure of the date ... the cars look rather like toy ones?!

By the 1750s the south coast’s hamlets and fishing
harbours were just starting to grow into the seaside resorts we know
today. Eastbourne being known as “The Empress of Watering Places” …

… probably because King George III’s children paid a
visit to the sea-resort in 1780 … a ringing endorsement which popularised the
town as a place to visit …

Restoration in 2016 taking place

… they stayed at the eastern end of the town, in ‘The
Round House’ built over the ruined Roman villa, where the pier now stands …
before the Georgian/ Victorian redevelopment of the sea front and promenade.

Toys for the boys ... work in progress 2016

A huge amount of reconstruction occurred as the
sea-front was built to withstand the force of the sea … today it is
eye-watering to think of the vision in the 1800s needed to design Eastbourne’s frontage …

In 2016 the plans of the works were displayed ... hereis shingle being pumped, from barges, onto the foreshore

The 94 timber groynes formed a major part in diverting
the strength of the tides … they were replaced in the 1920 – 1930s, then after
serious storms in the late 1900s when the shingle had been washed away … the groynes
had gradually collapsed exposing the foundations of the sea wall.

Repaired groynes in April 2020

By the early 1990s it was decided that larger groynes
would be used, with extra shingle being brought in from the Isle of
Wight ...

Greenheart timber: in GuyanaChlorocardium

... sustainable Guyanan Greenheart timber would be used, which is hard,
durable, resistant to rot, abrasion and attack by marine woodworm.

So we come to the 2015 – 2020 when the groynes needing to be replaced … one shown here … the images giving you an idea of
the ongoing repairs … along the nearly 4 mile frontage …

2016 - working to build up the shingle - which helpsto protect the seafront

As with many Victorian developments, the promenade was
built on top of the shingle beach, particularly eastwards from the pier: this ‘fixed’
the shoreline in a position that was unsustainable …

… the sea would always breach … the seawall would be
undermined, leading to collapse and Eastbourne town being flooded.

Groyne much loved by sea plants andmolluscs ...

Thus the groynes are essential to our seafront today …
the sustainable timber lasts about 40 years, while the older it gets the harder
it becomes… and won’t even float in water.

Groynes stretching eastwards -all 94 of them

Maintaining our coastal defences against the power of
the sea never stops … while the moon unceasingly controls the tides, so we need
our coastal engineers and we need those groynes.

Eastbourne beach looking east from the pier

Two hundred and fifty years on we can safely, probably
more safely, promenade along our seafront … and no doubt, in due time, the town will
be full of visitors once more.

... because at one stage (even today) the ‘tide could work’ its way into the
town … swamping basements – so I was surprised to find these lower levels so
near the sea here.

Summer 2016 - carpet gardens on Grand Parade -Queens Hotel at an angle, before the runof the two hotels: Burlington and Claremont

A photo I took in 2016 ... to show you the partial extended run of buildings along the Grand Parade seafront.

Back to hanging façades – this one jauntily left sadly suspended at the first floor level of the junction wall to the Burlington Hotel
… reminded me of one that is exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum …

Jettied frontage as exhibitedin the Victoria and Albert Musuem

… the jettied wooden frontage of Sir Paul Pindar's house exhibited at first floor level, as it would have been in Bishopsgate
Street Without (just outside the City walls) in the 1600s …

The article below is really interesting … giving insights
into London in the 1600s, its development, trade routes, meeting places et al …

Sir Paul Pindar and his brother, Ralph -engravings by Thomas Trotter based ona work of 1614

The frontage survived the Great Fire of London in
1666, and in the article there are some images from those times, showing its
situation … before the house was demolished in the 1890s when the expansion of Liverpool
Street station took place.

Fortunately it was realised the façade had
architectural value … hence its presentation to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Chrysanthemum on seafront

Funny (strange) how subjects can appear to provide an
extra dimension to my posts …

Ceanothus

While ‘wandering’ around on my walks – I spotted these
two beautiful plants in full April lock-down glory – a bright canary yellow Chrystanthemum
indicum … I believe … while I’ve always loved Ceanothus – that blue is just
gorgeous …

Two skeletal remains … one very sad, one in perfect
health, suspended in perpetuity, at a museum of delight.

Wednesday, 15 April 2020

A parcel had been delivered from the archaeology site
near London Bridge for us to investigate its contents …

… we knew that it was Ancient … that meant being over 100 years old … and excitedly we
were asked to let them know about the object.

Archaeology definitely has its moments … we move from old
tiles, to beads, early jewellery, pins, leather straps, clay pipes … numerous
items needing to be identified and dated.

This well-wrapped item appeared … and as we unwound
some of the packing … there were lots of protective layers and bubble wrap …
then …

The chamber pot - so called vase by the archaeologists -as a joke - NB no truth in this tale!

P h w o a h … the stench was appalling … what did they
call it … bad eggs – oh too much … I
wanted to retch as I made to move away from the pot …

… but had to go back to analyse the contents … the
orange-yellowy encrusted ring, still apparent inside the pot, from which
scrapings could be taken for investigation – though I knew it could only be a
chamber pot – that stench was just appalling …

Demolition of Old London Bridge 1832

The site archaeologists must have been laughing as
they wrapped up the ‘Ancient Vase’ (as they called it) – knowing that we would
not be expecting such a delightful
object d’art to examine.

Who would think that an Antique pot could still stink
after all these years … the men in the 1840s would have been anxious to
back-fill and re-cover these ‘artefacts’ … hence the contents and stench
remained for us to analyse.

The very smelly Father Thames 1855

Stink, Stench, Pong … that was just terrible having to
spend the day confirming, no doubt to the archaeologists’ delight, that it was
a chamber pot they’d found in the medieval cesspit.

I guess now our next job would be to clean the Antique
Pot … in order for it to form part of a museum collection on this excavation.

Saturday, 11 April 2020

… at the time here in Britain the Anglo-Saxons ruled
from the 5th Century to 1066 AD (William the Conqueror’s invasion) …
during which time the Vikings marauded and over time (770 – 1066 AD) integrated
…

There was a biographical programme about Du Fu – which I
found really interesting … giving me some insight into the interior of China …

Two adapted quotes …

In the deep sky:
Scorpius in the Milky Way

It may be almost as hard for friends to meet again …

... as for Orion’ and Scorpius’ stars in earth’s firmament
to halt the precession …

Reconciliation
by Josefina Vasconcellos

We humans tread lightly on this world … can we look to
leave it in safe hands … caring ones, empathetic ones … for the poor,
displaced, discouraged … all peoples – everyone needs to be thought about … and
remembered …

Take care, going carefully into each day … our world is strange today ... lets bring it back together into the compassionate one we'd all like to live in ...

Tuesday, 7 April 2020

I found this in a health food shop - gluten free - from Doves Farm, Hungerford, Berkshire

Shortages of flour … I use very little, but ‘tis a
store cupboard ‘nice necessity’ – no children, no husband … no need to bake,
but managed to get some – it is self-raising, but that’s fine for the moment …
I use it for sauces …

This looked a fun book -
I don't own it ... but the
descriptions made me laugh

Lots of cake baking being done, or bread being made –
by others … no eggs either at some places – I’m glad I’m in a decent sized town
with lots going on when it happens, a chance to walk by the sea … but civilised
enough to have most things in the shop – and just about be able to walk right
in …

A gaudy Simnel cake c/o Wiki - Doves Farm has
different images; for anyone who likes to bake
they have some interesting Easter recipes ...
Simnel cake, Easter biscuits and Hot Cross Buns

I do love the idea of Simnel cake – traditional at
this time of year … it’s now a rich fruit cake, but in medieval ages the
high-calorie simnel cake was useful to the domestic servant’s own family’s
nutrition when they had their Mothering Sunday off to visit home …

Bread making in the 15th century

Its name dates back to Roman times … Latin simila means “fine flour” … but over
time its exact history has been lost … though there is a reference in 1226 AD to “bread
made with simnel” … so even back in the days – fine flour was being sought out.

Fate - by Alphonse Mucha (1880-1939)

We can manage … we will get by … we are luckier than
most in the world … and we never know when our time is up … or how – we need to
take care and share …

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About Me

A lover of life – who after London, spent time in South Africa; an administrator, sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining ... who through her mother’s illness found a new passion – writing, in particular blogging; which provides an opportunity for future exploration, by the daughter, who has (in her 3rd age years) found a love of historical education. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat – interaction is the key! Now moved to Vancouver Island, Canada for 'a while' - not forever ...